Support for the cleaning of floor coverings



May l, 1928. 1,668,220

c. A. SMITH SUPPORT FOR THE .CLEANING 0F FLOOR COVERINGS A Filed Avril l. 1927 E LELJ QTTORNEY Patented May `l, 1928.

PATENT OFFICE.

CARLOS A. SMITH, OF BELLAIRE, OHIO.

SUPPORT FOR THE CLEANING F FLOO COVERINGS.

`Application led April 1,

This invention relates broadly to carpet and rug cleansing devices, and morespecifically to a support upon which floor coverings may rest While being scrubbed, and to holding means for such coverings.

The primary object ot the invention is to provide a supporting bed and means for retaining `thereon floor coverings, as carpets and rugs, while the latter are being subjected to the action of a traveling cleansing mechanism.

A further object is to provide a supporting and holding means of the character referred to which is designed especially for use with floor coverings having areas greater than that upon which the scrubbing mechanism employed may operate in its traverse.

A still further object is to provide a device of the character mentioned adapted to be Aemployed in association with traveling scrubbing apparatus of the character `disclosed in my co-pending application for Letters Patent, Serial No. 151,349.

In describing theinvention in detail, ref- `erence is herein had to the accompanying drawings, in whichv Figure .l is a fragmentary top plan view of the invention illustrating its use;

Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2, Fig. 1;

Figure 3 is an enlarged top plan view of the attaching bar;

Figure 4 is an enlarged face view oit' the shiftable bar holder;

Figure 5 is a side view of the same; and- Figure 6 is an enlarged section on line 6 6, Fig. 3.

Referring to said drawings, 1 designates the horizontally disposed supporting bod upon which .may ,rest the floor. covering 2, or a portion thereof, while suoli covering is being acted upon by a traveling, or shiftablc, cleansing or scrubbing apparaixtus which cmbodies scrubbing rolls 3, indicated in broken lines in F 1 and 2 of the drawings. Said bed 1 is located between the track rails-t along which the said scrubbing apparatus travels, andlocatcd laterally and at opposite sides of the bed are longitudinal cha-nnels or troughs 5 which parallel said rails on the inner sides of the latter, as shown.

The bed 1 may be the floor of a room, and the troughs 5 may be formed in such floor, or said bed may be constituted by a built-up 1927. Serial No. 180,320.

structure which is adapted for mounting upon 4a floor and which has the troughs formed therein in the locations described.

Mounted Within each of the troughs 5, as

in brackets or supports 6, is a longitudinally extending bar or rod 7 along which is adjustable a carrier 8 for an end of a transverse bart) to which may be attached an edge portion of the floor covering 2 which is to be acted upon. Said bar 9, as herein shown, has struck-up prongs 10 upon which may be impaled said edge portion of the floor coveringfor securing the latter against shifting movement under the action of the rolls 3 of the scrubbing apparatus. Said bar has tenen-like ends 9a adapted tobe snugly fitted in notches 11 provided in the upper ends of said carriers 8. l/Vhen not in use, said carriers may be swung from their upright carrying positions to horizontal positions within the trou hs.

The carrier 8, as herein shown, has divergently inclined resilient legs 8 Which have terminal eye portions 8" enga-ged with the adjacent rod 7. Said eyes normally occupy such inclined relation to said rod that they bind upon the latter, as is best indicated in full lines in Fig. 4, but when the legs 8a are pressed, or sprung,l toward each other, as shown in broken lines in said Fig. 4:, the carrier may be freely adjusted along said rod 7.

`The bed l will ordinarily have a width for accommodating thereon rugs of the most common room size, as 9x12 feet. When a rug of greater width is to be cleansed, it is laid crosswise of the bed with one end thereof coiled into roll form, as sho-wn at 2, the roll being disposed Within the adjacent trough 5. Thus, when the bed-bearing poi'- tion. ot the rug has been cleansed, the uncleanse'd portion is drawn upon the bed, and

the cleansed portion is coiled into roll form with the roll resting in the opposite trough,

whereupon the cleansing mechanism may be passed over said uncleansed port-ion to coluplete thecleansing operation. "It will be understood that the troughs provide spaces for the reception of the coiled portions of rugs while other portions thereof are subjected to the action of the scrubbing rolls; also that said troughs rovide out-of-the- Way locations in which t e bar supports are positioned.

Means is provided whereby water and Cri for the reception of a floor covering` or a portion thereof, troughs located on opposite sides, of. and occupying a lower level than said bed. said troughs being adapted for the reception of coiled portions of such covering, and` means preventing drainage oit cleansing fluid from said bed to said trough.

f3. In a carpet scrubbing mechanism, a bed for the reception in flatwise condition ot a iiooi` covering, o r a` portion thereof, a longitudinally extending trough locatedv on cach` et the opposite sides oi? and occupying a lower level than` said bed, means associated with said bed for preventing drainage of cleansing fluid troni said bed to said troughs, means for holding in fixed position an edge portion of a floor covering to prevent movement of saidv covering on said bed, and means located partially within said troughs for adjusting the position of saidholdingmeans.

3. In a device of the` character described, a bed :tor the reception in. tlativise condition ot a floor covering, or a portion thereof, a longitudinally `extending trough located on each of the oppositesides of and occupying a lower level than said bed, each of saidtroughs being adapted Alor the reception of a coiled portion of such4 covering, means for holding in fixed position an edge portion of a floor covering against movement of said to said. troughs from the floor space between.,

said troughs.

5. ln a device of the character described,

a bed for the reception in latwise conditionV oil :1 floor covering, or a portion thereof, a longitudinally extending` trough located on cach of the oppposite si `es of and occupying, :i -lower level than said bed, a bar provided; with means for holding an edgel portionof:

a .floor covering whereby the latterl is main,- tained against shifting movement on said bed, and means for adjusting the postion` of said bar.

ti. In a device of they character described, a bed for the reception in` tlatwise conditionr of a loor covering, or a portion thereof', a longitudinally extending.v tnougfh located on each of the opposite sides of and occupyin a lower level than said bed, a bar provid i with means for holding an edgeA portion of-ak CARLOS A.y SMITH. 

